Kasuga Hijiri: "What is a 'Soul Beast'?"
Bibi Dong: "A Soul Beast…"
Bibi Dong then explained more about spirit masters and Soul Beasts.
Misaka Mikoto: "Hmm, you kill Soul Beasts to increase your own power… Yet these Soul Beasts have intelligence. That sort of power is really twisted."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "It's definitely twisted, kind of like how our own weapons need vampires—humanity's enemies—to forge them."
Frieren: "It goes beyond just that."
Frieren: "In your world, Shinoa, vampires are generally born powerful and come from a very large race. Their means of reproducing is no different from that of humans."
Frieren: "But from what Bibi Dong has described, Soul Beasts have a very hard time raising their cultivation, measured in terms of thousands or tens of thousands of years."
Frieren: "Meanwhile, humans can cultivate spirit power, add spirit rings, and quickly become stronger. At just a few dozen levels, they can already match a Soul Beast's juvenile stage of cultivation."
Frieren: "That leads to only one possible outcome—"
Izawa Shizue: "Humanity as a whole grows stronger and stronger, while more and more Soul Beasts weaken as a group, grow fewer in number, and could even end up on the brink of extinction."
Frieren: "Exactly."
Bibi Dong: "This…"
She had never considered it before.
After all, in this era, a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast was a symbol of true power. Even Titled Douluos avoided them.
But after Frieren's analysis…
Bibi Dong realized that the spirit master power system was indeed rather distorted.
It might really lead to the extinction of Soul Beasts one day in the future.
Sakurajima Mai: "By then, it probably wouldn't affect humanity much. They could stop being spirit masters and find a different path."
Kato Megumi: "But the Soul Beasts would go extinct."
Shiba Miyuki: "If Soul Beasts are intelligent, it becomes a philosophical question of what that means."
Akame: "In our world, we have Danger Beasts. Most of them aren't intelligent; the strong ones were killed by Rei Ao and by us."
Kasuga Hijiri: "Different worlds have different problems. We can't exactly stop any of it."
"Is there really nothing we can do?"
Lan Fozi's gaze turned gloomy.
She was a Soul Beast herself and felt it keenly.
"…"
For a while, Bibi Dong didn't know how to comfort her.
But she thought of Rei Ao.
"Maybe Rei Ao has a way."
…
Meanwhile, the Rei Ao that Bibi Dong was thinking of was currently in a dorm room, "exploring."
To be honest, he was a bit surprised.
"Stella, you're the first person to accept both mouth and 69 on the very first try. I didn't realize you'd be so uninhibited."
"Ugh…"
Their bodies were surging back and forth like waves.
Stella's cheeks flushed bright red.
She mumbled in embarrassment, "A-Actually, I learned from watching your streams, a-and I kept some pictures that I used every day…"
Her voice got quieter and quieter.
She didn't want to be mistaken for some kind of pervert.
Nervously looking at Rei Ao, she asked, "D-Do you dislike this side of me?"
Rei Ao paused at that moment.
That very pause made Stella's heart sink.
But then, he simply reached out to brush away the sweat-soaked hair clinging to her face.
Speaking softly, he said, "Before I answer that, I have a question for you."
"What question?"
"When you fantasize late at night, who do you picture?"
Stella pouted, "Of course it's you! Apart from you, I don't have feelings for any other gu—mmph!"
Stella's eyes went wide mid-sentence.
Blushing with annoyance, she said, "Wh-why won't you let me finish talking?"
"No need. I should give you my answer right now."
"!!!"
Stella sensed something was off.
Th-this strength and momentum were on a whole different level from before.
Her expression turned startled.
"Wait! This kind of—"
"Heh, that's my answer. How could I possibly dislike you?"
Instead of light, floating words, Rei Ao believed a more intense, unmistakable action would best convey his feelings.
Stella raised a hand and grabbed onto the railing to keep her balance.
She understood now.
All along, she had just been worrying for nothing.
Rei Ao was such a big lecher; how could he possibly dislike her?
He might even have been planning this from the start, waiting to let loose at any moment.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be this intense right now.
Surprisingly, Stella did not dislike it in the slightest.
"I'm so happy, Rei Ao… I'm so happy!"
She couldn't hold back her honest feelings.
Rei Ao smiled.
He leaned in toward her ear.
He whispered, "I'll give you something else to be happy about. This room has a barrier, so no sound will get out."
"!!!"
Those words fully flipped Stella's switch.
As the princess of the Vermillion Kingdom, the last shred of her royal reserve completely vanished.
…
In this world's group chat:
Kurogane Shizuku: "@Rei Ao, Rei Ao, where are you right now? I'm looking for you."
Rei Ao: "I'm in your dorm."
Kurogane Shizuku: "Oh! No wonder I couldn't find you. I'll head over now."
Rei Ao: "@Shinguuji Kurono, how are things on your side?"
Shinguuji Kurono: "We've stabilized the situation."
Shinguuji Kurono: "However, Edelweiss—the one who was defeated—wants to meet you. Also, my friend Saikyo Nene wants to learn more about you."
Toudou Touka: "Edelweiss? You mean the strongest swordsman, 'Twin Wings' Edelweiss?!"
Toudou Touka noticed that name, and only then did she realize just how shocking it was.
She had actually fought against the world's strongest… even though she lost badly.
But what she admired more was how Rei Ao had easily defeated the world's strongest foe.
No wonder he was her idol and goal!
Rei Ao: "Let Edelweiss wait for now."
Rei Ao: "As for your friend, I imagine you've already mentioned me to her, right?"
Shinguuji Kurono: "Yes."
Rei Ao: "So what's on your mind? Tell me."
Shinguuji Kurono: "I hope you can 'sleep-subdue' her."
Toudou Touka: "Principal , you mean 'persuade' her."
Shinguuji Kurono: "Heh heh."
Kurogane Shizuku: "Touka, you misunderstood. The Principal wants Rei Ao to take down Saikyo-sensei."
Toudou Touka: "???..."
Toudou Touka's mind went blank.
She suddenly felt as though she had gained some strange new knowledge.
Shinguuji Kurono: "That's correct. Rei Ao, I think she'll catch your fancy, and I also need her to stand with me."
Rei Ao: "Tsk, tsk, you're basically throwing your friend into the fire."
Rei Ao: "Come on over first."
Shinguuji Kurono: "All right."
~~~
400 Powerstone Bonus Chapter!